Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the bodies that she has met to discuss their pre-Budget submissions in relation to her Department's expenditure. [34850/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I hosted the Pre Budget Forum on 19 September 2008. Representatives from 28 organisations including the unemployed, disabled, carers, women's issues, pensioners, widows, lone parents and family/marriage counselling services attended. In total submissions were received from 29 organisations across the community and voluntary sector. The submissions inform the development of policy within the Department.

The Forum provides a useful setting where the various organisations can present their priorities, listen to the concerns of the other organisations, and get an overview of the competing demands being made on the Department.